Salt & Light: Heart Condition

If we could see the hearts of the men and women who live on planet earth would we see how much love and compassion we have for one another?  If we believe the news and social media or spend time observing the leaders in the current political climate of this country and others, love for each one would seem to be a rare occurrence. But what does it mean when we who also claim to be Christians and are included with those who don’t show love or compassion for those in need or for those who don’t look like the faces they see in their mirror. Is our care for our neighbor determined by the color of their skin, nationality, economic class, or gender? (Matthew 15:21-28, NIV)

This is what I find to be the most disturbing, but it's not the first time that we who call ourselves to Christians have manipulated the Gospel as a tool of oppression. History details of the times when armies were marauding nations and communities in the name of Christ. The scriptures have been misquoted and manipulated to enslave and oppress others. Now more than ever the world needs to see what faith in practice looks like and how it shows up for those in need. 

The Bible reminds us to remember those who are hurting as if we were the ones suffering. When preaching on the subject of compassion and in reference to the story of the good Samaritan, Martin Luther King Jr. said, ""The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: ‘If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?’ But the good Samaritan reversed the question: 'If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?’""

“You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13, NIV)  is not just for a few.  It is the calling for all who believe and follow Christ.  Salt is used to enhance flavor and as a preservative. To 'be salt' means to deliberately seek to influence the people in one's life by showing them the unconditional love of Christ through good deeds. “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14, NIV) applies to you too. Light drives out darkness and shows us where we are in the world around us.  When the light switch is on, each person has the same opportunity to exercise God’s gifts to improve their lives and their surroundings.

I believe this is what a community of Christians ought to be in a world full of those in need and souls who are lost. At the center of living a life as salt and light is the measure of the condition of one’s heart.  The question that we need to answer, Do we have a heart that loves God and loves his creation?  If so ... be the salt & light in your community.

Now, let us grow together as the women and men our Father called us to be in the world.  

2019 Salt & Light (Project I)

Blessed by the efforts & commitment of our Covenant Shepherd Church family.  We served 100 bag lunches to the homeless and those in need last Sunday.  Check out a few moments from this event.

Be Determined

"For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God, I can leap over a wall." Psalm 18:29, ESV

Often when we read this scripture we focus on the “leap”, not realizing there’s a battle taking place. We’re facing an army, and there’s an obstruction, a wall we have to get over. You will face many walls.

One common trait that keeps coming up in stories and accounts of women and men who overcame trials and tragedy in their lives, is that somehow, they found courage in themselves to say, I can overcome, I will survive or I won’t take this lying down. They refused to quit, give up or walk away. We’ve heard many heroic stories resulting from painful and sometimes tragic experiences. Naturally, most of us lose sight of the fact that life isn’t meant to be an easy walk in the park. God never promised a life of ease on a bed of roses.

1. Over the course of your life, things will go wrong, despite your best planning
2. Personal Challenges, including failure & success, are a part of life
3. Loss is a part of your faith journey

“By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” Genesis 3:19 (NIV)

Work makes a person sweat. We will never be able to avoid all of the negative and horrible things life dishes out, however, as people of faith we should stand and fight, not cowering to the challenges we face. Horrible things happen in life, but life is not horrible.

The Apostle Paul said, “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12 (NIV)

Be determined. Stand and fight.